“This Future is Currently Unavailable” – a bold call to action for this year edition

Isola Design Festival 2024 is embracing innovation with an evolved format this year. Exploring new venues like Lampo Milano, WAO PL7, and Galleria Bonelli within the Isola Design District, previously untapped during Milan Design Week, Isola aims to transform these hidden gems into vibrant hubs of creativity.

These locations, along with others, will showcase the future of design, fostering a dynamic atmosphere of collaboration and inspiration throughout the neighborhood. Expect exhibitions, installations, engaging events, workshops, live demonstrations, and insightful design talks, featuring contributions from international designers, studios, creators, and manufacturers.

Isola has issued an open call to all designers, inviting them to envision how design and innovative craftsmanship can influence the future of our planet. The deadline for submissions is February 29, 2024.

“This Future is Currently Unavailable” is not just a tagline, but a call to action and reflection. The idea came during our adventurous travels to global design events, sparking a vision of the immense potential within our design community. This year, Isola is on a journey to prove that design is more than just sustainability – it’s a powerhouse for tackling real-world issues. Picture it like this, a traveling hub of exciting, curated, and innovative design initiatives. We’re not just building a community; we’re setting the stage for the future of design!” — says Gabriele Cavallaro, co-founder and CEO of Isola Design Group.

To propel towards the future, designers must embrace experimentation and collaboration across all domains, seek innovative solutions, and prioritize the collective impact of design on the planet and humanity. By fostering collaboration among designers from varied backgrounds and nationalities, the event aims to inspire a holistic approach that transcends borders and conventional design paradigms.

By showcasing forward-thinking proposals that integrate innovation, sustainability, and craftsmanship, Isola Design Festival 2024 brings together diverse disciplines into an exciting design multiverse, offering a glimpse into the future of the industry.

Last year, Isola’s global design community united, bridging diverse cities and cultures through various international events spanning from Milan Design Week to the London Design Festival, Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, Tanween in Saudi Arabia, and concluding at Dubai Design Week. In its ongoing pursuit of cultural exchange and connection, Isola is poised to bring participants and collaborators from the Middle and Far East to Milan.

Building upon the momentum of 2023, Isola Design Festival 2024 will feature several collaborations with partners from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, including the “Routes to Roots” exhibitions conceived for Tanween (Ithra’s Creativity Conference) and the “Anatolia” design show initially presented at Downtown Dubai. Additionally, the festival will showcase the latest innovations in contemporary Japanese design with the inclusion of three cutting-edge Japanese collectives.

Further enhancing its global perspective, Isola will unveil new projects and collaborations with Design Doha, Dubai CommerCity, and Sama Design (Jeddah) during the event. At the heart of the extensive program of Isola Design Festival 2024 lie three main hubs: Lampo Milano, WAO PL7, and Stecca 3.0, complemented by five shows curated by Isola Design Festival 2024’s curatorial team and guest curators.

Lampo Milano

Lampo Milano, a new urban revitalization initiative spanning 40,000 sqm in the historic railway yard, Scalo Farini, offers a dynamic space for global citizens. Hosting coworking areas, cultural events, workshops, and pop-up galleries, it fosters creativity. Central to Lampo Milano are two main exhibitions:

• Isola Design Gallery: Showcasing collectible design pieces, unique narratives, and contemporary products from independent designers and studios worldwide. Sections include The Dutch Corner, DesignWanted, and Super Ultra Nice.
• Is One Life Enough?: Curating sustainable and circular products, this exhibition explores the possibilities within human, product, and material lifetimes. It includes a section dedicated to Colab, the UAE’s first material library, featuring materials from Fantolino.

WAO PL7

At WAO PL7, a new coworking space by OneDay Group, Isola sets up a vibrant hub with indoor and outdoor exhibition areas. The underground parking garage transforms into an exhibition space for “Disclosure: Design Studios Unveiled,” where studios showcase their work and offer live demonstrations. Hiro, an Italian sustainable design brand, will present its products and the winning project from their 2024 open call. In Galleria Bonelli, Isola hosts two exhibitions from recent international events:

• Anatolia, debuting in Dubai and now in Milan, celebrates Anatolian design inspired by the Silk Road’s cultural exchange.
• Routes to Roots, first seen in Saudi Arabia for Tanween, explores designs preserving heritage and the Earth, showcasing talent from the MENA region and beyond.

Stecca 3.0

Stecca 3.0, the socio-cultural center at the heart of the neighborhood, will serve as the third hub for Isola Design Festival 2024. Here, international and local designers, artists, institutions, and experts will gather for public talks and workshops. Partnering with Nieuwe Instituut, Constructlab, ISIA Urbino Academy, and IAAD., Stecca 3.0 aims to facilitate dialogues and knowledge exchange.

IAAD., along with Accademia Italiana and SAE Institute, will present BRA-VERY BAR, a cultural and educational event centered around the theme of “Dialogue.” Students will design a bar on the ground floor, while the first floor will feature a show and interactive installation.

Collaborative installations

Additionally, Isola Design Festival 2024 collaborates with institutions, academies, design collectives, and studios to offer various design experiences across the Isola Design District. These curated installations and events are strategically placed throughout the neighborhood, connecting the main hubs and showcasing diverse design realities.

Notable locations include Via Luigi Porro Lambertenghi 3, Angelo della Pergola (Via Angelo della Pergola 1), Zona K, Brussels House (Via Gaetano de Castillia, 23), Studio Via Farini, Design Soil (Via Pastrengo 5), New Craft House (Via Guglielmo Pepe 16), Oatly (Via Confalonieri 11), Verstrepen Studio & Jiin Yoon (Via Cola Montano 13), and Worth @ Bottega Immagine.

Isola will host a Press Conference on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, from 16:30 to 19:00 at Lampo Milano (Via Valtellina 5, Milan) to reveal the complete program of Isola Design Festival 2024.